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Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Grandest of 'em all - Grandparents

Do you know why children and their grandparents are so close to each other? Because, they have a common enemy!

That's what someone said. And it pretty much sums up the relationship between the two.

Source : Google Images

Source : Google Images

How nice is it to be pampered by two or more sets of grandparents. Favourite snacks and toys, no strict bedtime, plenty of stories, so much of monkeying around, cousins galore, all play and no studying. And if the parents try to throw a spanner into the fun activities, the grandparents are around to come down on them quite heavily. Now that is sheer heaven, isn't it? And oh, did I forget to mention gifts? Often times when kids are scolded by their parents, they run to the grandparents seeking comfort and to complain. Kids are more comfortable sharing their thoughts with them, because grandparents listen to them with so much patience.

For a grandmother, the grandchildren are always skinny, no matter how chubby they really are. So, the endlessly supply of favourite goodies to munch on. The pleasure they derive from being with the grandchildren is something can be seen and sensed. They don't mind getting down on their knees (no matter how painful it is to do so) to be an elephant for the grandchild to ride on. They match babystep for babystep with their grandchild when he/she wants to go for a walk on their chubby little baby legs. They carry them cheerfully in their arms even if it tires them and physically pains them to do so. The pride with which they introduce the little one(s) to their friends is a sight to behold.

Source : Google Images

Source : Google Images

They enjoy when the grandchildren chide them while playing games, the rules of which, they have no clue about. They don't mind looking silly when they enact animals, or do some role play, making wierd faces and sounds as long as it makes the child laugh. They also impart wisdom to the kids in a very patient manner, a patience which is sometimes not exhibited by parents themselves. When the kids reach school going age, they drop the kids to school and pick them up, listening all the time to the chatter of how the day at school was. They know most of the child's friends by name and through what they did or didn't do, though they had not met the friends in person. They wipe away the child's tears and empathize with him/her.

Source : Google Images

During my childhood days, many of my friends used to excitedly say that they were off to their granny's house for summer vacation or Dasara vacation. Then, after the vacation, on the first day of the school re-opening, when we were asked to write a short essay on how we spent our vacation, these kids used to boast that they had a wonderful time at their granny's place eating their favourite snacks, climbing trees, picking fruits off trees, lazing around reading story books, playing with the cousins who were also spending their vacation there, you know, generally getting pampered.

I used to envy them because, you see, one set of grandparents had passed on when I was very, very young and the other set, well, we all stayed together. So, I did not have a "granny's" house to go to, like my friends. We used to spend our vacations in different uncles' and aunts' houses, getting pampered, lazing around, reading comics, visiting touristy places near-by, woken up early in the mornings for yoga practice, spending time by the river, climbing hillocks, getting gifts, listening to ghost stories in the dark, playing badminton & carrom board, listening to music. Only when I outgrew that phase did I realize that it was good that our grandparents and us, all lived together. From what I remember of my grandparents, which is not much, I know that they encouraged education, believed strongly in hard work, in integrity, in building & maintaining good relationships. I also realised later on that we kids didn't have to have a granny's house to have fun. We enjoyed being at our aunts' or uncles' houses having fun no less than my friends had or maybe even more.

Blessed are those who had or have caring grandparents.

I sometimes wonder how it would be, if my grandparents were still around now.

Ahhhh there truly can be a special relationship between kids and their grandparents. My maternal grandfather was a WONDERFUL man, and would always nod and smile at my mum's list of instructions when he came to babysit, and as soon as she was out of the door - "well we won't be doing any of THAT"

aaah ! Prathima u made me all nostalgic lady. Remembered my summer holidays totally ! I dont have my grand parents now. One granny- I lost her when I was in 1st std. Have only faint memories. All others expired in diff time zones. I missed them most on my wedding dayThanks for this post

I didn't get to spend much time with my grandparents, since they were in the hometown and we here, in Delhi. In the last years of my maternal grandma, I started to know her more. And regret the times I didn't get to spend with her! This made me emotional and nostalgic!

Like you, I didn't spend too much time with my grandparents either. Two of them had passed away and two were physically very far. Today, I have the satisfaction of seeing my kids' relationship with my parents and in-laws.

Oh how I loved this. One set of my grandparents lived a mile away! And one set lived in Washington DC! We were in NY--not too far. I got totally spoiled and remember my extraordinary grandparents with great love--they were amazing, I am happy to say I have three grandsons now of my own now ! I am very lucky! jean :)

I can totally identify with this post.. Not for the vacations, but for the fact that I was lucky enough to have my granny around all my life (until she passed away) and nothing can replace those years.. secretly cook things that you like, protect you from the wrath of ur parents, take your side when it comes to wanting support, trips to the temple, etc etc.. :-) i have very fond memories of my grandparents.. Thank you for this wonderful post !! :-)